Overcounter water disposal system



Oct. 4, 1960 L. w. OHLSSON OVERCOUNTER WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2, 1958 'FPaZ ORNEY Oct. 4, 1960 1.. w.OHLSSON 2,954,683

OVERCOUNTER WATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Zeanard M4 O/z/ssan 4 BY Q9) W A ORNEY OVERCOUNTER WATERDISPOSAL SYSTEM Leonard W. Ohlsson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor toWhirlpool Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich, a corporation of Delaware FiledJan. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 706,732

9 Claims. (Cl. 62-277) This invention relates to an improvement inovercounter water disposal system and deals particularly with a means ofdispersing waste water collected in a refrigerator unit when theevaporator coils are defrosted.

In defrosting an electric refrigerator to remove the frost whichcollects upon the evaporator coils, it is usual practice to permit theevaporator coils to heat above the freezing temperature to melt thefrozenliquid and to conduct the liquid to a suitable receptacle. Thereceptacle is then emptied whe'nthe defrosting operation is completed.Oneof the difficulties of this system occurs when the water collectionpan is not emptied at sufliciently frequent intervals The watercollection pan then overflows and must be wiped up when the pan isemptied. Where the refrigerator rests directly upon the floor, noserious difficulty is usually experienced when the water collection panoverflows. However, where the refrigerator is of the type mounted abovea cabinet the problem is so mewhat accentuated due to. the fact that thewaste water may drain down over the cabinet and possibly into the same.It is this problem which the present application is designed toeliminate.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of amoisture collecting trough which is mounted beneath the evaporator coilsof a refrigerator and into which the water may drop as the coils aredefrosted. The water collection trough is provided with an outletleading to a water collection pan which distributes the moisture over arelatively large area. A fan is provided which acts to direct a streamof air across the surface of the water collection pan at all times whenthe compressor is in operation. The air passing over the body of watergradually absorbs the. water and carries it from the refrigerator. Thusthe moisture created by the defrosting of the coils is graduallydispersed into the surrounding atmosphere.

1A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of arefrigerator having a forced air circulating systern which admits airfrom the outer atmosphere and forces a portion of the air through therefrigerant condenser and over the compressor to cool therefrigerant inthe condenser and to cool the compressor. A portion of this air isdeflected through suitable ducts to the areas of the water collectionpan to cause an increased rate of evaporation of the water in this paninto the air.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of awater collection system which delivers waste water created by thedefrosting of the evaporator coils to a water collection pan locatedbeneath the refrigerator and in providing a heating element inconjunction with the bottom wall of the refrigerator just above thewater collection pan. This heating element serves the purpose ofpreventing condensation from collecting on the bottom .wall of therefrigerator and also assists in the evaporation ofany moisture whichmight collect on this surface. The heater also serves to radiateheat tothe collectionpan to assist in evaporating water collected Within thepan.

2,954,683 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 These and other objects and novelfeatures of. the present invention will be more clearly and fully setforth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification;

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper portion of anover counter refrigerator, the posi= tion of the section being indicatedby the line 11 of Figure 2. c

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus shown inFigure l, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical. sectional view through the back of therefrigerator, the position of the section being indicated by the line3-'-.-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the bafiiearrangement used in guiding the air through the air system.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the air conduit leadingfrom the air circulating fan.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another portion of the conduit forconducting air from the fan.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of one of the conduits shown in Figures5 and 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the =back of the refrigerator showingthe location of the vertical flue through the rear wall of therefrigerator. r

the ends of Figure 9 is a sectional view through the inner section ofthe air conduit and air flue, the position of the section beingindicated by the line 9 -9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view through the refrigeratorshowing the general arrangement of parts therein. v

c Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view through the air flue, theposition of the section being indicated by the line 11 11 of Figure 8.

' Figure 12 is a vertical section through the lower portion of therefrigerator on a plane parallel to the front andrear walls thereof.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view of the refrigerator with the watercollection pan removed.

In the particular construction illustrated, an overcounter refrigeratoris indicated in general by the letter A and .is designed torest upon acabinet illustrated in general by the letter B. The refrigerator isconstructed with a refrigeration unit compartment 10 mounted on top ofthe refrigerator cabinet 11. As indicated in Figure lOo-f the drawings,the cabinet includes parallel side walls 11 and 12 and a connecting rearwall 13. The cabinetalso includes a top wall 14- and a bottom wall 15 asisevident from Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. These walls form agenerally rectangular body structure having an open front which isnormally closed by a pivotally supported door 16. As is conventional insuch constructions, all of the Walls include an inner liner 17 whichmaybe drawn of a single piece or may be fabricated of angularly relatedpanels. These walls also include outer panels, the side walls includingouter panels 19 and Zil respectively and the rear wall 13 including anouter covering panel 21. The top wall 14 includes an outer or upperpanel 22 while the bottom wall 15 includes an outer or lower panel 23.The space betweenthe inner through which air "may pass. A top wall 31closes the upper extremity of the compartment 10.

The compartment 10 to provide a semi-circular notch 67 in its rear edge.

the connecting member 61 terminates in the plane. of

'2 v) 'A mechanism supporting frame 32 is mounted in any suitable waywithin the housing 10 and includes a generally octagonal portion 33 anda pair of parallel arms 34 emanating therefrom. The arms 34 support therefrigerator compressor which .is diagrammatically illustrated at 35.The frame 32 also supports a fanmounting bracket 36 which supports a fanmotor 37 and its fan blade 39. The fan is arranged with its axissubstantially parallel the front and rear walls of the refrigerator andwith its axis directed toward the compressor 35.

The frame 32 also supports a condenser 40 which extends diagonallybetween opposite sides of the octagonal portion 33 of the frame.The-condenser 40 extends through an air conduit which is intended toguide air from approximatelyone-half of the length of the louverassembly 29 to the fan blade 39. The intake portion of this conduit isbest illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The inlet portion of the conduit is indicated in general by the numeral41 and includes a side wall 42 which is supported substantially parallelto the compartment side wall 26 and which is connected along its top andbottom edges to substantially triangular panels 43 and 44. An attachmentflange 45 is connected to the rear edge of the side wall 42. A shortside wall 46 extends upwardly from the angular edge 47 of the triangularbottom plate 44 and is provided at its upper extremity with an angularlyturned flange 49 which, is secured in surface contact with anedgeportion of the upper triangular panel .43. The wall 46-is offsetinwardly a short distance from the remainder of the edge 47 of thebottom panel 44 and the remainder of the edge 50 of the upper triangularpanel 43 so as to provide short projecting portions designed to overlapthe adjoining portion of the conduit. 1

The adjoiningconduit portion is indicated in general by the numeral 51and includes spaced'upper and lower panels 52 and 53 which are designedto overlap the edges 50.and 47 f the panels 43. and 44. The upperandlowerpanels 52 and 53 are substantially identical in shape and arefive sided in outline including an edge 54 designed to overlap the inletportion 41, and substantially. right angularly extending adjoining edges55 and 56 which define three sides of a substantiallyrectangular area.The panels SZ .and 53 are also bounded by lateral edges 57 and which areconnected by a vertical wall panel 59. The edges 57 and 55 are connectedby an angularly' extending edge 60'. 1

The edges 60 of the panels 52 and 53 areconnected by a wall 61'which isbent to be substantially semi-circu-.

lar at its forward edge 62 and flat at its rear edge 63. An

attachment flange 64 is connected to the rear edge 63..

The upper and lower .marginal edgesof the connecting member 61 arestitched or otherwise secured as indicated at 65 to the marginal edges60 of the panels 52 and 53.

The conduit portions 41 and 51 are separately formed as illustrated sothat they can be assembled about the condenser 40. The front wall 59 isprovided with a flange 66 extending vertically along its forward edgeand is out As the front wall 59 the curved forward end 62 of thisconnecting member combines with the semi-circular notch 67 in the frontwall 59 to provide a generally circular aperture.

The conduit member 51 is positioned mainly on one side of the condenser40 with a portion of the panel 53 7 extending beneath the condenser andwith a portion of The edges. 54 of the panels 52 and '53 are overlappedwith the edges the panel 52 extending above the condenser.

50' and 47 of the panels 43 and 44 of the inlet section 41 and thepanels are secured in overlapping relation. The flanges 64 and extend onone side of the condenser 40 while the flange 45 and wall 46 extend onthe other side thereof. 9 As the condenser does not extend the fullheight of the baffle structure, generally U-shaped connecting members 69may be'inserted between the flanges 64 and 45 at one end of thecondenser and between the flange 66 and wall 46 at the other end of thecondenser to complete this portion of the baflle structure.

As is perhaps best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the fanblade 39 is preferably mounted in the circular opening of the bafflestructure which has been described. The fan draws air through theportion of the louver structure 29 which is forwardly of the inletsection 41 of the baffle and is drawn through the condenser 40 andthrough the circular baffle opening. The main portion of the aircirculated by the fan is directed into the portion of the refrigerationunit chamber 10 outwardly of the conduit or bafile structure. Thus theair is directed toward the compressor 35 and 'is free to leave thecompartment through the portion of the louver unit exteriorly of thebaflle or conduit. However, a portion of the air is deflected into apair of right angularly arranged conduit members which are designed toconduct the air to the lower portion of the refrigerator.

The conduit sections 70 and 71 illustrated inFigures 6.

and 5 of the drawings, similarly to the baflle or. conduit sections 41and 51 previously described; may be formed of material such as'waterproof fiberboard or light metal.

The conduit section 70 is designed to provide an air scoop forwardly ofthe lower portion of the fan blade 39 and to direct it through theremainder of the conduit system.

The section 70 includes a bottom panel 72 which is generally rectangularand which is provided along one longitudinal edge with a right angulartapered wall 73 which; is narrower at its outlet end. The upper edge ofthe wall I 73 is connected to a top panel 74, and the opposite edge. ofthe top panel 74 is'provided with a relatively short flange 75. Thisflange 75 isrsecured in overlapping relation with an upwardly extendingflange 76 cut'from the bottom panel 72 to form a tubular tapered outletportion.

.The top panel 74 is cut away at one end to provide a generally rightangular notch 77. A flange 79 is con nected along. the edge of the notch77 parallel to the. tapered wall 73 and this flange 79 is preferablytapered.

in a direction in reverse to the taper of the wall 73 so that theupperedge 80 of the flange 79 is substantially parallel to the bottomwall 72.

' An end member 81 of the type illustrated in Figure 7' and which is ofa type commonly referred to as an invertedcover is secured between thebottompanel 72 and top panel 74 as illustrated in Figure .6. The endmember 81 includes a substantially rectangular base .panel 82 having topand bottom flanges 83 connected to its upper.

and lower longitudinal edges and end flanges 84 connected to itsopposite ends. at right angles to the base panel 82 forming a hollow boxshaped tray which is stitched or otherwise secured to the,

adjoining panels. a The conduit section 71 comprises member including asubstantially rectangular top panel 85, side wall panel 86, bottom wallpanel 87, and side.

wall panel 89. A flange 90 extends'upwardly from the edge of the toppanel 85 opposite that connected to the therethrough of a size to snuglyaccommodate a portion of the tubular end of conduit section 70. A secondaper-. ture 92 is provided in the bottom panel 87 adjoining the sidewall 89 and at the end of the conduit opposite.

that containing the aperture 90. 1 a

As is evident from Figure l of the drawings and Figure- 4 thereof, theconduit sections 70 and 71 are arranged in right angular relation withthe upwardly extending flange 79 of section 70 spaced forwardly of thefan. blade 39 and substantially normal to the axis of the blade and withthe conduit section 71 extending along the rear wall- 27 3 of thecompartment 10. These conduit sections rest The flanges 83 and 84 arebentan elongated tubular h'pon the top panel 22 of the refrigeratorcabinet as may of the back panel 21, the offset portion remaining con:nected to the remainder of the rear panel by short com:

necting walls 95. .As 'is indicated in Figure 9 of the drawings, theupper end of the oifset wall 94 terminates just beneath the level of thebottom panel 87 of the conduit forming member 71 As will be evident fromFigures 2 and 8 of the drawings, the rear panel 21 is notched centrallyof the offset portion 94 at the lower end thereof. V i

As is shown in Figures 2 and 13 of the drawings, the bottom panel 23 isalso notched at an adjacent point as indicated at 97, the notch in thepanel 21 being identified by the numeral 99. A metal angle member 98 issecured to the inner surface of the offset portion 94 and to the uppersurface of the bottom panel23 adjoining these notches. The notches andthe angle corner member 98 are for the purpose of accommodating thelower end of a water draining tube which will be described.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the evaporator coils 101are mounted within the refrigerator cabinet along the rear wall 13thereof between the liner 17 and a bathe plate 102. A drip trough 103extends across the rear of the refrigerator beneath the coil 101 tocatch moisture dropping therefrom when the coil is defrosted. A lowpoint on the drip trough 103 is connected by nipple 104 to a drain pipe105 which is located within the flue 93. The lower end 105 of the drainpipe 105 is angled forwardly and downwardly to extend through thenotches 99 and 100 to terminate above the rear end of the Watercollecting pan 107. As indicated in Figure 12 of the drawings, the watercollecting pan 107 is provided with outwardly directed side flanges 109which are slidably engaged in a pair of channel tracks 110 mounted uponthe undersurface of the bottom panel 23. The water collecting pan 107may be pulled forwardly for removal. Short legs 111 on opposite sides ofthe refrigerator and beneath the bottom panel 23 provide the necessaryspace for the accommodation of the pan 107.

As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, a hollow cavity 112 is formedin the rear wall 13 near the upper extremity of the refrigerator cabinetand is lined by a portion of the liner 17. A louvered grill 113 ismounted forwardly of the cavity 112 so that air may be drawn through thegrill. A fan 114 is mounted in the cavity 112 and acts to draw airthrough the grill 113 and to force the air over the evaporator coils101. This forced air circulates through the interior of the cabinet soas to equalize the temperature throughout the body of the cabinet. Innormal construction, the fan 114 is electrically operated and thecircuit to the fan is controlled by a door actuated switch, not shown inthe drawings, so that the circulation of air will be discontinued whenthe door of the refrigerator is opened.

The operation of the refrigerator will now be described. The fan 114normally operates continuously except when the refrigerator door isopened as described. Air is blown over the evaporator coils and iscooled by contact therewith. This air is circulated throughout theentire body of the refrigerator cabinet.

During this operation, the moisture carried by the air tends to collecton the evaporator coils 101 in the form of frost. From time to time, therefrigerator is defrosted in any suitable manner by permitting theevaporator coils to raise in temperature above the freezing temperature.This may be accomplished by either circulating hot refrigerant gasthrough the coils or else by merely interrupting the operation of thecompressor for a suificient length of time to permit the evaporatorcoils to attain a temperature above the freezing point.- When this oc'-collecting trough 103; Fromthis trough 103 the liquid is conveyedthrough the'nipple 104 and drain pipe into the water collecting pan 107.

At the completion of the defrosting operation, the compressor 35 isagain energized and the fan motor 37 simultaneously starts operation;Air is drawn through the louvered grill 29 and into the inlet section 41of the baffle or conduit. The air is drawn through the condenser 40,lowering the temperature of the refrigerant contained therein. The fanblade 39 forces the air into the portion of the refrigerator unitcompartment 10 externally of the baffie or duct structureandparticularly around the compressor 35 to assist in cooling the same.The air is free to flow from the compartment 10 through the portion ofthe louvered gr'ill assembly 29 which is not forwardly of the conduitinlet section 41.

As the scoop section 70 or the conduit is positioned forwardly of thefan blade during the lower portion of its rotary movement, a desiredproportion of the air enters the open portion of the conduit section 70beneath the flange 79 and isdefiected through the tubular portion 74.

conduit section to flow through the aperture 92 which is in registrywith the upper portion of the flue 93. A covering strip 116 overlies theinwardly offset portion 94, bridging this inwardly offset portion andforming a vertical tubular conduit or due. This air is thus forcedbeneath the refrigerator bottom panel 23 and over the water collectingpan 107 suspended beneath the bottom panel 23. As the air moves over thewater within the collecting pan, it picks up water vapor and assists inevaporating the collected water. The water in the collecting pan thusgradually evaporates and is dispersed .into the atmosphere.

Thus, it will be seen that the water collected during the defrostingperiod of the evaporator coil is dispersed from the collecting pan intothe air. The rate of evaporation is sufficiently high to normallyevaporate all of the water between defrosting periods. In order toprevent the collection of moisture upon the undersurface of the bottompanel 23, a continuously operable heating element 117 is attached to theupper surface of the bottom panel 23, heating this bottom panel to atemperature somewhat above the normal temperature of the air circulatingover the water collection pan. This heating element servesto prevent thecollection of condensation on the bottom refrigerator surface and toassist the evaporation of the moisture. The heating element 117 alsoacts to radiate heat to the collection pan and evaporates water from thecollection pan.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in overcounter waterdisposal system, and while I have endeavored to set forth the bestembodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may bemade within the scope of the following claims without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A water disposal system for use in conjunction with a refrigeratorincluding a cabinet enclosing cooling compartment, an evaporator withinsaid compartment, a compressor externally of said compartment above saidcompartment, a cooling fan in conjunction with said compressor, a watercollecting member in said compartment beneath said evaporator, a watercollecting pan beneath said cabinet, a conduit extending from said watercollecting member to said water collecting pan through which water insaid member may be conducted to said pan, a duct supported in the pathof a portion of the air circulated by said fan, said duct extending to apoint adjacent to said water collecting pan to direct air passingtheret-hrough over said pan.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said refrigerator includes'acondenser into which compressed refrigerant is forced bysaid'compressor, said condenser being above said compartment and in thepath of movement of air circulated by said fan.

- 3-. The structure of claim 1 and in which the refrigerator includes acondenser above said compartment and into which compressed refrigerantis forced by said compressor, and including a duct through which aircirculated is drawn, said condenser being in said last mentioned duct.

, 4. A waterdisp'osal system in combination with a refrigeratorincluding a cabinet enclosing a refrigeration compartment, a refrigerantunit mounted above said compartment in said cabinet and including acompressor, and a condenser, an evaporator within said compartment, acooling fan, an air duct enclosing said condenser through which air isdrawn by' said fan, a duct in the path of movement of some of the aircirculated by said fan, the remainder of the circulated air beingdirected toward said compressor, said last named duct extending to apoint adjacent the bottom of said cabinet to circulate air beneath saidcabinet, a water collecting member beneath said evaporator within saidcompartment, a water receiving pan beneath said cabinet, a drain conduitconnecting said water collecting member to said receiving pan, said lastnamed duct directing air over said pan.

S. The structure of claim 4 and in which said refrigerator unit isenclosed within the upper portion of said cab inet, and in whichsaidcabinet includes an air inlet comrnunicating with said first named ductand an air outlet communicating with the interior of the upper portionof said cabinet. 7

6. The structure of claim 4 and in which said evaporator extends along awall of the compartment, and including a baflfle partially enclosingsaid evaporator, and means circulating'air between said baffle and saidwall.

7. The structure of claim 4 and in which a portion of said last namedduct comprises a vertical inwardly ofiset portion in said rear wall, anda strip bridging said inwardly ofiset portion and forming a tubularconduit portion.

8. The structure of claim 4 and including parallel slide means slidablysupporting said water collecting pan.

9. The structure of claim 1 and including a heating element in heatexchange relation with the portion of said cabinet overlying said watercollecting pan.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,016,327 2,167,442 Alsing July 25, 1939 2,679,143

